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HIAWASSEE, GEORGIA

Great Smoky Mountain Adventure: Appalachian History, Culture, Music and Railways

Itinerary for Oct 5 — Oct 10, 2014

Description: The Ridges Resort & Marina encompasses a tranquil lakeside escape in Hiawassee, GA. The Ridges is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featuring beautiful accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and memorable cuisine. Just two hours from Atlanta, this lakeside oasis is filled with recreational activities from boating to championship golf.

Description: The Ridges Resort & Marina encompasses a tranquil lakeside escape in Hiawassee, GA. The Ridges is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featuring beautiful accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and memorable cuisine. Just two hours from Atlanta, this lakeside oasis is filled with recreational activities from boating to championship golf.

Breakfast: Breakfast begins at 8:00 AM and is held in the Meeting Room of resort.

Morning: Participants will visit the Cherokee Museum. This is a delightful museum in Murphy, NC. What is even better is the knowledgeable and entertaining guide that will enlighten you as to the history of the area and then will show you all the museum artifacts...a real show. Everyone loves this museum and loves the guide that goes with it.

Lunch: Lunch will be at restaurant located on Lake Chatuge.

Afternoon: Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Approximately 3 hours. If a person is unable to go the distance, they may go a portion of the trail and go back to bus or to the picnic area and wait on the group to return. We have had people to do this before, who wanted to see what the trail looked like. A naturalist will guide the trip and explain the flora and fauna and medicinal uses of the plants. Trail includes some gradual inclines with roots and uneven surfaces.

Description: The Ridges Resort & Marina encompasses a tranquil lakeside escape in Hiawassee, GA. The Ridges is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featuring beautiful accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and memorable cuisine. Just two hours from Atlanta, this lakeside oasis is filled with recreational activities from boating to championship golf.

Morning: Cherokee & Great Smoky National Park trip. This is an all day trip to Cherokee, NC to study the Cherokee Indians and their exit from Georgia on the Trail of Tears. Visit a museum and village plus more. Your excellent instructor will be along and will talk to you about this on your motor coach ride to Cherokee.

Lunch: Picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Cherokee & Great Smoky National Park trip. You will return to the hotel by 5:00 pm. This is a fun-filled day.

Description: The Ridges Resort & Marina encompasses a tranquil lakeside escape in Hiawassee, GA. The Ridges is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featuring beautiful accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and memorable cuisine. Just two hours from Atlanta, this lakeside oasis is filled with recreational activities from boating to championship golf.

Morning: John C. Campbell Folk School provides experiences in non-competitive learning and community life that are joyful and enlivening. Located in scenic Brasstown, North Carolina, the Folk School offers year-round week long and weekend classes for adults in craft, art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography and writing. Our group will be greeted by an on-site instructor who will be our guide.

Lunch: Lunch is held at 12:30 PM at the resort.

Afternoon: Participants have the afternoon off to rest, fish, meander through the rhododendron garden located 1/4 mile from the resort, which is right next door to your hotel or visit the local historic area.

Description: The Ridges Resort & Marina encompasses a tranquil lakeside escape in Hiawassee, GA. The Ridges is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featuring beautiful accommodations, a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and memorable cuisine. Just two hours from Atlanta, this lakeside oasis is filled with recreational activities from boating to championship golf.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Call for seasonal rate.Participants are responsible for making own reservations for any additional nights.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Five: Thursday, October 09 - Train trip: The Great Smoky Mountains Railway/App...

Breakfast: Breakfast is held at 7:15 AM at the resort.

Morning: Travel to the Fontana Lake Trestle spanning 780 feet and standing 100 feet above the water. View the magnificent sunset on the lake. Train trip through the Great Smoky Mountains. Lunch is on the train.You will see beautiful mountains, trees, and flora and fauna. The Great Smoky Mountain Railway takes you over the Fontana Lake by way of the historic Fontana Trestle. It is a sight to see! This is an experience you don't won't to miss.

Lunch: Box Lunch.

Afternoon: Continuation of Train trip.

Dinner: Dinner is held at 6:00 PM at the resort.

Evening: Entertainment is absolutely wonderful! Your instructor is your entertainment as well. He has made several CD's of Appalachian music and was invited to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!